2994 Tue Zootocist—Marcu, 1872. 
last week in February, though in one season {1858) the first “ drumming” 
snipe was heard on the 16th of March: this was, however, the latest date 
I have ever recorded for the commencement of that peculiar sound.— 
O. P.-Cambridge ; Bloxworth Rectory, Blandford, February 8, 1872. 
Snipes “Drumming” in Winter.—On the 5th instant, whilst on the 
look out for wild ducks at “flight,” I heard a snipe “drumming”: this is 
not very unusual, as I have on several occasions heard them drumming in 
winter, but always at dusk. I have noticed that whilst drumming at this 
season they never utter the note “ca, ca, ca, ca, ca” when ascending, which 
they invariably do in the summer. All observers will know the note I 
mean.—F’. Boyes ; February 17, 1872. 
Virginian Colin in Nottinghamshire.—Since my notice of a Virginian 
colin having been shot near Nottingham, another specimen has been killed 
near the same place. They were both, to all appearance, wild birds.— 
J. Whitaker, jun. 
Bittern in East Yorkshire.—An exceedingly small and prettily marked 
variety of the common bittern was shot, by Mr. George Harland, at Sunk 
Island, in this Riding, on the 1st of December last. It was seen squatting 
in a ditch, and refused to rise until “‘ kicked” up. I was unfortunately 
unable to get the weight or measurements, as it had been mutilated to make 
into a “screen” before I saw it. I, however, examined the stomach, and 
found it contained the remains of several beetles. The bird was a female.— 
F. Boyes ; January, 1872. 
Razorbills, Guillemots, &c., picked ap in the Isle of Wight.—It is a 
long time since I sent you a note for the ‘ Zoologist,’ but the unusual 
number of birds that have been picked up on our shores during the last 
month is such an extraordinary occurrence that I cannot pass it by. After 
the very severe storm in January our shores from Compton Bay to Wat- 
combe Bay were lined with razorbills, guillemots, &c. I had upwards of a 
hundred brought to me between the 25th and 31st, most of them in very 
bad condition, and had evidently perished thus for want of food: not one of 
those that I skinned had a particle of fat upon them, whilst at this time of 
the year they are generally loaded with fat. I also obtained two puffins: 
these are the only two specimens I have ever obtained in the winter during 
the twenty-eight years I have collected. Seven gannets have been picked 
up and brought to me: this I consider very remarkable: we do get occa- 
sionally a specimen in very hard winters, but for seven of these powerful 
birds to be driven dead upon our shores shows the severity of the storm. 
It will be interesting to learn if these birds have been driven in like manner 
on other parts of the English coast, or whether they—viz. razorbills, guille- 
mots and puflins—were congregating here at the great breeding-place when 
the storm arose that destroyed them in such numbers.—H. Rogers; F'resh- 
water, Isle of Wight, February 18, 1872. 
i i th 
